Audit 48937

Incorrect and Untimely Return of Title IV Funds (R2T4) Calculations DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ALN #: 84.268, 84.063 Federal Award Identification #: 2021-22 Financial Aid Year Condition: When students withdrew unofficially, the University did not always return the correct unearned Title IV aid timely. Criteria: 34 CFR 668.22 Questioned Costs: $2,580 Context: Out of six students tested, four students were unofficial withdrawals and two were official withdrawals. From the four unofficial withdrawals, one student was not identified as needing a return until the audit. This student is in the process of being corrected. Cause: The financial aid office had been notified the student had stopped attending two classes, but the student was still enrolled in more than half time hours. The financial aid office was not notified that the student did not have any passing grades in order to evaluate if a R2T4 would be required. This was due to changes in the registrar and short staffing at the University. Additionally, the initial return calculation did not include the appropriate number of days, and this was revised during the audit. Effect: The federal funding was not returned until the audit. Identification as repeat finding, if applicable: Yes 2021-003, 2020-006, 2019-005, and 2018-005 Recommendation: We recommend the University run a 0-credit report at the end of each semester to ensure all unofficial withdrawals are followed up on so that R2T4s are completed timely when required. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Action: Management agrees with the finding. See corrective action plan.

Enrollment Reporting to NSLDS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ALN #: 84.268 Federal Award Identification #: 2021-22 Financial Aid Year Condition: The University did not report enrollment information to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) for students who did not use federal funding while enrolled at the University. Criteria: 34 CFR 685.309 Questioned Costs: $-0- Context: Out of 51 students tested, 1 student was not reported to NSLDS when they were enrolled more than half time at the University. This student had received federal funding previously but did not receive federal funding at the University. Cause: The University?s process has been to run a report of those with federal aid, and each of those students is then updated manually in NSLDS. Effect: The lack of reporting for a student who previously had received federal aid can impact the student?s loan grace period in school deferment eligibility and beginning loan repayments. Identification as repeat finding, if applicable: Not applicable. Recommendation: We recommend the University put a system in place where all students that have received federal aid previously and are enrolled at the University are included on the report of students to report to NSLDS. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Action: Management agrees with the finding. See corrective action plan.

Incorrect and Untimely Return of Title IV Funds (R2T4) Calculations DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ALN #: 84.268, 84.063 Federal Award Identification #: 2021-22 Financial Aid Year Condition: When students withdrew unofficially, the University did not always return the correct unearned Title IV aid timely. Criteria: 34 CFR 668.22 Questioned Costs: $2,580 Context: Out of six students tested, four students were unofficial withdrawals and two were official withdrawals. From the four unofficial withdrawals, one student was not identified as needing a return until the audit. This student is in the process of being corrected. Cause: The financial aid office had been notified the student had stopped attending two classes, but the student was still enrolled in more than half time hours. The financial aid office was not notified that the student did not have any passing grades in order to evaluate if a R2T4 would be required. This was due to changes in the registrar and short staffing at the University. Additionally, the initial return calculation did not include the appropriate number of days, and this was revised during the audit. Effect: The federal funding was not returned until the audit. Identification as repeat finding, if applicable: Yes 2021-003, 2020-006, 2019-005, and 2018-005 Recommendation: We recommend the University run a 0-credit report at the end of each semester to ensure all unofficial withdrawals are followed up on so that R2T4s are completed timely when required. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Action: Management agrees with the finding. See corrective action plan.

Incorrect and Untimely Return of Title IV Funds (R2T4) Calculations DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ALN #: 84.268, 84.063 Federal Award Identification #: 2021-22 Financial Aid Year Condition: When students withdrew unofficially, the University did not always return the correct unearned Title IV aid timely. Criteria: 34 CFR 668.22 Questioned Costs: $2,580 Context: Out of six students tested, four students were unofficial withdrawals and two were official withdrawals. From the four unofficial withdrawals, one student was not identified as needing a return until the audit. This student is in the process of being corrected. Cause: The financial aid office had been notified the student had stopped attending two classes, but the student was still enrolled in more than half time hours. The financial aid office was not notified that the student did not have any passing grades in order to evaluate if a R2T4 would be required. This was due to changes in the registrar and short staffing at the University. Additionally, the initial return calculation did not include the appropriate number of days, and this was revised during the audit. Effect: The federal funding was not returned until the audit. Identification as repeat finding, if applicable: Yes 2021-003, 2020-006, 2019-005, and 2018-005 Recommendation: We recommend the University run a 0-credit report at the end of each semester to ensure all unofficial withdrawals are followed up on so that R2T4s are completed timely when required. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Action: Management agrees with the finding. See corrective action plan.

Enrollment Reporting to NSLDS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ALN #: 84.268 Federal Award Identification #: 2021-22 Financial Aid Year Condition: The University did not report enrollment information to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) for students who did not use federal funding while enrolled at the University. Criteria: 34 CFR 685.309 Questioned Costs: $-0- Context: Out of 51 students tested, 1 student was not reported to NSLDS when they were enrolled more than half time at the University. This student had received federal funding previously but did not receive federal funding at the University. Cause: The University?s process has been to run a report of those with federal aid, and each of those students is then updated manually in NSLDS. Effect: The lack of reporting for a student who previously had received federal aid can impact the student?s loan grace period in school deferment eligibility and beginning loan repayments. Identification as repeat finding, if applicable: Not applicable. Recommendation: We recommend the University put a system in place where all students that have received federal aid previously and are enrolled at the University are included on the report of students to report to NSLDS. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Action: Management agrees with the finding. See corrective action plan.

Incorrect and Untimely Return of Title IV Funds (R2T4) Calculations DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ALN #: 84.268, 84.063 Federal Award Identification #: 2021-22 Financial Aid Year Condition: When students withdrew unofficially, the University did not always return the correct unearned Title IV aid timely. Criteria: 34 CFR 668.22 Questioned Costs: $2,580 Context: Out of six students tested, four students were unofficial withdrawals and two were official withdrawals. From the four unofficial withdrawals, one student was not identified as needing a return until the audit. This student is in the process of being corrected. Cause: The financial aid office had been notified the student had stopped attending two classes, but the student was still enrolled in more than half time hours. The financial aid office was not notified that the student did not have any passing grades in order to evaluate if a R2T4 would be required. This was due to changes in the registrar and short staffing at the University. Additionally, the initial return calculation did not include the appropriate number of days, and this was revised during the audit. Effect: The federal funding was not returned until the audit. Identification as repeat finding, if applicable: Yes 2021-003, 2020-006, 2019-005, and 2018-005 Recommendation: We recommend the University run a 0-credit report at the end of each semester to ensure all unofficial withdrawals are followed up on so that R2T4s are completed timely when required. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Action: Management agrees with the finding. See corrective action plan.